Door



Nov. 13, 192s.

A. S. BARROWS DOOR 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 27. 1924 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 A. S. BARROWS y DooR Filed June 27. 1924 Nov. 13, 1928.

Nov. 13, 192s. 1,691,370

A. s. BARRows DOOR f Fileddune 27. A'1924 5 sneetsfsneet s Patented. Nov.v 13, 1928i.

' UNITI-:D STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ALLAN S. BARROWS, OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOB TO TE YOUNGSTOWN I STEEL DOOR COMPANY, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, A. CORPORATION OF OHIO.

DOOR.

v Application led June 27, 1924. Serial No. 722,761.

This invention relates to improvements in car door for box cars, wherein great strengthl against pressure in each direction is obtained.

Another object of the invention is to provide a. door of the outside slidingtype, and more particularly for box cars, so constructe and braced as to provide maximum strength.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a car door constructed entirely of metal, composed of a plurality of panels, wherein the joints between the panels are effectively braced to provide maximum strength. I y

Still another object of the invention'is to provide a simple and eiicient operating mechanism. for car doors of the sliding outside ty scription and claims hereinafter following.

In the drawings forming a part of this specification, Figure 1 is a side elevational view of' a portionof a car showing my im- Y provements in connection therewith, the parts being broken away in order to better accommodate the figure on the sheet. Figure 2 is an:

enlarged, broken, horizontal, sectional view corresponding to the section line 2 2 of Figf ure 1. Figure 3 is an enlarged, vertical, sectional view corresponding to the section line 3-3 of Figure 1. Figure 4 is a still further enlarged vert-ical, sectional view of the joint between two panels of the door. Figure 5 is an enlarged, horizontal, sectional view of the rear'\ edge portion of the door. Figure 6 is a View similar to Figure 3 illustrating a diferent embodiment of the invention. Figure 7 is an enlarged, detailed, front, elevational view of a guide bracket used in lconnection with the construction illustrated in Figure- 6.

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` Figure 8 is a view, partly in plan and partly in horizontal section, of the bracket shown in Figure 7. And Figure 9 is an enlarged, vertical, sectional view of the upper end of the door illustrated in Figure 6, the section being taken through one of the guide brackets.

Referring first to the' construction illustrated in Figures 1 to 5 inclusive, 10 indicates 'the usual side wall of a box car, 11 the ioor "boards, 12 the car side sill, 13-13 the door posts or jams at the iront and' rear ends of the doorvopening and 14 the lintel.

pe. Other objects and advantages of the invention will more clearly ap-pear from the de-l In the arrangement'illustratedin Figures 55 1 to" 5 inclusive, a sliding outside door is Kshown designated generally by reference character A. The door A is composed of metal throughout and comprises a plurality of panels. In this instance, the door is shown 00 as composed of an upper panel 15, a lower d panel 16 and an intermediate panel 17. Each` of the panels is of rectangular outline and is dished .1nwardly, thereby providing Ieach panel with a continuous flange 1'8 extending 65 along the four edges thereof, and an inclined, continuous wall 19 connecting the flange to the main body portion of the panel. The sections of the flange 18 on the four sides of each p anel are all parallel .to` the main body por- 70 tion of the same,.but that portion of each iange of the panels 16 and 17 at the upper side thereof is inwardly offset with reference to the, remainder of the flange a distance correspond! lng to the thickness of the metal of the panel, so as to extend beneath the flange in 'the lower side of the adjacent panel. As clearly shown in'Figure 3,'the sections of the flanges at the lower sides of the panels 15 and 17 over-lap the sections of the /anges at the 8 upper sides of the.panels 17 and 16,' thereby i presenting corrugations 20 extending horizontally. Each of the corrugations 20 is reinforced by a longitudinally extending strip 21 of trough shape,"inserted within the same 85 and closely fitting the inclined walls 19 and theinner face of the innermost of the ,overlapping flange sections 18. The over-lapping flange sections of. the adjacent panels are secured to eachother and united with the ,corf respondlng strip 21 in any suitable manner,

`the same being'shown as riveted together.

Each of the corrugations 20 is also reinforced.

by a flat strip 22 spanning the corrugation and extending horizontally, the upper and lower l ledges of the strip being riveted to the main bodyl portions ofithe corresponding panels adjacent the base of the corrugation. In addition to stiii'ening and bracing the. corrugations, the strips 22 serve as an 'additional 100. means for securing the panels together, and also prevent any of the load from lodging in the corrugations 20.l As clearly shown in Figures 3 and 4, the free edges of the side `ianges of each channel strip 21 abutv the cor- 105 responding strip 22, therebyl giving the corru- 'of the panel 16 and the Z-bar 23, is secured at its upper and lower edges to the panel 16 and the flange respectively The lower edge of 4the strip 27 terminates flush with the lower edge of the member 25, thereby providing a depending flange of two-ply thickness at the lower edge of the door, engaging behind an angle bar track 28 supported by brackets 29 fixed to the side sill 12 of the car. The depending flange at the lower end of the door is oil'set slightly inwardly from the plane of the body portion of the door panels and is guided between the side wall of the car and 'the track as clearly shown in Figure 3, and extends an appreciable distance below the track to prevent accidental disengagement of the same from its guideway, the brackets 29 being each provided with an upwardly extending arm on which the track is supported to thereby accommodate the depending guide flange. v

A relatively heavy channel bar 30, having short and long flanges 31 and 32, extends vertically along the rear edge of the door, the same being secured to the flange sections 18 at the rear ends of the panels 15, 16 and 17 by means of the flange 32, by rivets, or secured in any other suitablemanner. A vertically ex tending bridging strip 33, having one edge angularly disposed las indicated at 34 and riveted to the inner surface of the intermediate section of the channel bar 30, spans the space between the channel and the main body portion of the panels 15, 16 and 17, being rigidly secured to the latter in any suitable manner, as by spot welding. The flange 31 of the channel bar 30 extends inwardly of and is spaced an appreciable distance from the rear side of the door, being adapted to engage over a rearwardly projecting arm of anangle bar 34 rivetedl to a wear face plate 35 applied to the exposed face of the post 13 at the rear end of the door opening. The overlapping portions of the angle bar 34 and the channel ar 30 form an effect-ive spark and weather seal. A relativel-y heavy Z-bar 36 extends vertically of the front edge of the door and has one flange thereof secured to the flange sections 18 at the front ends of the panels 15. 16 and 17 and has the other Hange thereof projecting forwardly from the door and riveted to avertically disposed reinforcing bridging strip 37 spanning the space between the Z-bar 36 and the main body portions of the panels 15, 16 and 17. The verti- Leensvo cal front edge of the strip 37 tei-Inmates flush with the outer edge of the corresponding flange of the Z-bar 36 thereby providing a forwardly projecting flange 38 on the door of two-ply thickness. The flange 38 is adapted to engage behind the outer arm of a vertically disposed Z-bar 39 applied to the outer wall of the carv adjacent the front end `of the door opening. The lZ-bar 38 also acts as a stop member to limit the sliding movement of the door when the same is pushed to closed position. The Z-bar 39 is preferably secured to thewall of the car by rivets extending through the same and through a wear facing strip 40 applied to the post 13 at the front end of the door opening.

A Z-bar 41, having the flanges 42 and 43 thereof vertically disposed and extending upwardly and downwardlyl respectively from the intermediate web section 44 extends longitudinally of the upper edge of the door and is secured thereto by the flange 43 which is riveted to the front surface of the section of the flange 18 at the upper edge of the panel 15. As'clearly shown in Figure 3, the flange section 18 at the upper edge of the panel 15 is ollset inwardly with reference to the re- ,mainder of the flange 18 thereof, a distance corresponding substantially to the thickness of the flange 43 of the Z-bar. A reinforcing bridging strip 44', having the upper edge thereof bent at an angle and riveted to the flan-ge 42 of the Z-bar 41, spans the space between the Z-bar and the main body portion of the panel 15, the lower edge of the strip being riveted to the panel as clearly shown in Figure 3.

Guide brackets, in the forni of Z-shaped plates are provided at the upper edge of the door, there being preferably two such plates, one at veach end of the door. Each plate 45 has one of its flanges secured to the flange 43 of the Z-bar 41 and the other flange thereofprojecting upwardly in a plane parallel to the flange 42 of the Z-bar, thereby providing a guideway therebetween adapted to accommodate a depending flange 46 of a Z-bar 47 forniing lthe upper guide for the door, the Z-bar 47 having the remain-ing'llange thereof secured to the lintel 14 in any suitable manner.

'The door A is supported for sliding mpvementby= a pair of rollers 48 disposed at the front ,and rear ends thereof and coacting with the angle track rail 28. The rollers are disposed within the tubular pocket defined by the strip 27, Z-bar 23, flange 18 and the wall 19 at the lower edge of the panel 16, and each is mounted within a bracket' 49 on a short shaft'50 extending through the side walls of the bracket` the arm 24 of the Z-bar 23 and a relatively large opening in the plate 27. As clearly shown in Figure 3, the Z-bar 23 is provided with a pair of suitable openings at the opposite ends thereof through which the lower sides of the rollers project.

` It will be evident that the rollers are housed entirely within the door structure and are therefore effectively protected from the weather. l

The door A is provided with a suitable door operating mechanism comprising,

broadly, a lever B pivotally mounted on a bracket C fixed to the side wall of a car and a link D pivotally mounted on a bracket E fixed to the door A. The lever B is pivotally mounted at its upper end on the bracket C by means of a pin 51, and is provided with an operating hand lgrip 52 at 'its lower end. Intermediate the handle 52 and the pivot 51,- the lever is provided with a cylindrical projection 53 adapted to engage within an opening 54 at the free end of the `link D, pivotally connected at its opposite end by a pin 55 to the bracket E. As clearly shown in Figure 2, the bracket E is of such a form as to closelyfit the dished portionl of the panel 16 of the door and is secured to the same by rivets extending through the nz-ain body portion of the panel. The supporting bracket C is of angle shape, has the arm thereof to which the lever ispivoted, spaced from the outer face of the Z-bar 39 and the other arm thereof riveted to the intermediate section of the Z-bar 39.

To open the door, the lever B is rstswung from the full line position to the dotted line position shown in Figure 1 and the link D engaged with the projection 53. Upon movement of the lever in a counter-clockwise direction, the door will be forced open. In closing the door, the operation is the reverse of that just described, the link being engaged with the lever B when in full line position and the door being lpulled shut as the lever is swung to the dotted line position. Means of well known construction comprising a hasp and staple designated at 5,6 may also be provided for locking and sealing the door when in closed osition. n From t e preceding description taken in connection with the drawings, it will be observed that l have provided an exceedingly strong and rigid all metal door construction effectively braced against bending or distortion in all directions, as all joints thereof as well as the front, rear, top and bottom edges, are braced by reinforcing strips. Furthermore, while the door embodies corrugations, the inner surface of the door is substantially fiat and continuous, thereby minimizing any interference with movements of the door, due to any of the lading bearing thereagainst. `With the construction described, it will be observed that l have provided what may be termed a tubular edge construction of the door throughout as well as tubular braces eX- tending longitudinally of the door at the joints of adjacent panels. This construction is especially adapted to resist bending thrusts exerted transversely inwardly and outwardly ofthe door and to resist bending thrusts imparted parallel to the side wall ofthe car in vertical and horizontal directions.

It will lalso be evident that the arrangement of reinforcing means las hereinbefore described is especially effective in bracing sheet metal doors composed of a plurality of panels having the over-lapping portions of two adjacent panels forming the joint therebetween in the form of a corrugation, in that the corrugation vis not only stiffened by a reinforcing strip corresponding in shape t o 'i l of the door opening, 114 the door lintel, and

A the slidinor side door.

The door isof the so-called bottomhung type with the supportino rollers 115 riding upon a track 116 of angu ar cross section, supported by suitable brackets 117 secured to the side sill 112. The door A herein shown is of sheet metal construction throughout, provided with a plurality of corrugations extending horizontally and is reinforced along all its edges by suitable fiat bracing strips 118.

T o properly support each of the supporting rollers 115'on the door, I employ a housing 119 open at the'bottom and provided with a depending flange 120 overhanging the outer side of the track. The housing is provided with a suitable flange 121 at the inner side thereof by which'it is fixed to the door, the same being preferably Secured by rivets. A short shaft 122, having its opposite ends supported in the outer and rear walls of the housing, serves to rotatably mount the roller. The opening in thev outer wall of the housing, which receives the corresponding end of the shaft, is smaller than the opening in the rear wall and the shaft is correspondingly reduced at its outer end whereby the saine is retained in assembled relation with the housing by its jnner end abutting the outer surface of the oor.

The top edge of the door is guided below a longitudinally extending bar 123 having a horizontal section 124 extending over the door and a depending outer flange 125 overhanging the upper edge of the door at the outer side thereof. The bar 123 is extended upwardly from the section 124 and has t-he upper edge bent atright angles and secured to the under-side of the horizontally disposed arm 126 of the door lintel 114. The/lower edge of the door engages behind the track 11G so as to prevent the bottom-edge of the door from being sprung outwardly. To properly guide the Lipper edge of the door A', provide the same with a plurality of guide brackets 12T,

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preferably two, one at each end of the door. One of the guide brackets is shown in detail in Figures 7, 8 and 9. Each guide bracket is preferably in the form of a casting, having spaced, vertically disposed, front and back walls 128 and 129 and a horizontal bottom wall 130. The back wall 129 is provided with reduced extensions at the opposite ends thereof, forming ears 131 by which the bracket is secured to the door, each ear being perforated to receive a securing rivet. The. front and bottom walls of the bracket 127 are preferably lreinforced by transverse ribs 133. At ther upper edge, the front wall 128 is provided with an inwardly projecting, horizontally disposed, longitudinal flange 134, and each extension of the back wall 129 has a guide lug 135 projecting therefrom toward the flange. As clearly shown in Figures 7 and 8, the guide lugs are disposed inwardly of the rivet receiving openings and in spaced relation to the opposite ends of the bottom and front walls of the bracket, and each is notched adjacent the corresponding rivet receiving opening to provide clearance for the riveting tool. The walls 128 and 129 of each bracket are adapted to-accommodate the depending flange 125 of the bar 123 therebetween, and the flange 134 and the lugs 135 are adapted to coact respectively with the front and rear faces of the depending flange125 to properly guide the door during its longitudinal movement and prevent the latter from being sprung either outwardly or inwardly.

I have herein shown and described what I now consider the preferred manner of carrying out my invention but the same is merely illustrative and I contemplate all changes and modificationsthat come within the scope of the claims appended hereto.

I claim: v

1. In a door, the combination with a plurality of sheet metal plates, having their adjacent edges over-lapping and joined together, the over-lapping edges at each joint between the sheets being offset outwardly from the main body portion of the sheets; of a strip reinforing each of said offset joint portions and corresponding in section thereto; and a second reinforcing strip spanning each offset joint and rigidly secured to the body portions of the corresponding plates.

2. As an article of manufacture, a doorl ing reinforced by a correspondingly formed strip fitting within the indentation, and a .second strip spanning the indentation.

3. As an article of manufacture, a door comprised of a plurality of sheet metal panels having their adjacent edges over-lapping and joined together, each of said joined overlapping portions being of'f'set with reference tojthe plane of the main body portions of said panels, thereby dening a corrugation,

fixed to the car adj acent-the upper edge of the door and having a depending flange overhanging the upper edge of the door; a guide bracket fixed to the upper edge of the door, said bracket having integral means thereon engaging the front and rear surfaces of said depending flange to guide the door for sliding movement. A

5. In a car, the combination with a sliding door of bottom-hung type; of a member fixed to the car adjacent the upper edge of the door and having a depending flange overhanging the upper edge of the door; of a guide bracket fixed to the door, said bracket having front and rear walls adapted to receive said depending flange therebetween, said walls being provided with projections adapted to coact respectively with the front and rear faces of said depending flange.

6. In a car, the combination with a sliding door ofthe bottom hung type, of a bracket mounted on said car and arranged to carry a guide, said door being provided with a flange portion disposed at one side of said guide; and means on said door having a flange cooperating with the opposite side of said guide.

7. As an article of manufacture, a guide bracket adapted to be secured to a door, said bracket including a housing open at the opposite ends and top andy adapted to accommodate a guide member, one wall of said housing being provided with a flange adapted to engage onek side of said guidel member and another wall of said housingbeing pro- .the opposite side of said guide member.

8. 4In a car door, the combination with a main body portion having an integral off-set flange 'extending along the rear edge thereof; of an angular section'arranged along therear edge of said door and secured to said off-set flange, said angular section including a portion disposed substantially normal to the main plane of the main body portion, and including a portion proj ecting beyond the inner surface of said door and toward the forward edge thereof in parallel relation with refer- 'ence to the inn-er surface of said door.

section including a portion extendingsubl stantially normal to the main plane of the body portion and a portion disposed beyond` theinner surface of said door and projecting toward the forward edge thereof in spaced relation with reference to the inner surface of said door; and a vertically extending reinforcing strip secured to said main body portion inwardly of said flanged portion and extending in spaced relation with reference to the olf-set iiange to said normal portion and being secured to the latter at points spaced from the forwardly projecting portion of said angular section. A

l0. In a. car door, the combination with a main body portion made up of sheet metal and including an integral portion at the rear edge of the door, extending at an angle to one side of said main plane and terminating in an integral oi'lset portion disposed substantially parallel with said niain plane; of a reinforcing section in the form of an angular bar provided With a web extending substantially at right angles to the main plane of the door, said bar being provided With a ange lying fiatwise against said offset portion, the web of said bar extending inwardly of the main plane ofthe door and terminating in a portion adapted to form a spark seal; and a vertically extending reinforcing strip secured to said main body portion in its main plane, inwardly of said integral off-set portion and extending to and being secured to said web in spaced relation with reference to said olf-set portion.

1l. A steel door comprising flanged struc-n tural steel members of relatively sturdy construction, connected together to form a substantially rectangular frame, sheet steel members of relatively light Weight for covering said frame, said sheet steel members including box-like braces and panels, said sheet steel members being overlapped from top to bottom of said door in positions to shed rain or other forms lof precipitation.

In 'Witness that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto subscribed my name this 5th day of June, 1924.

. ALLAN S. BARROWS.

as f 

